If the party is 3rd level and they are doing fine, any CR 4 Or CR 5 monster...whatever fits best in your game.
Now, if it were me, I'd make three or four flumphs with monk levels and see what they do with that.
If you want to provide a challenge, I'd say offer up something with some flight ability, they can't slaughter what they can't reach. Also, maybe a spellcaster with some mooks.
A gargoyle could be challenging, particularly if it plays smart. Disguised as a statue in the abandoned tomb, maybe have a few zombie meatsacks wandering around so the party focusses on them, then as the barb is cutting swathes through the zombies up ahead, the statue comes to life and lays some hurt on the two backliners, as Barb charges back to fight it, it flies up out of reach and heckles them, or tanks them with it's DR. Ta da, they're challenged!
If they seem disproportionately powerful, maybe double check everyone's math and stuff, make sure AC bonuses are stacking appropriately, etc...
Balor
I recommend an encounter with a
- 4th level wizard with the ghast undead template
- 4th level rogue also with the ghast undead template
- Numerous ghouls with 1 level in fighter, who happen to have decent CMB
The ghouls attempt to paralyze and grapple the party and drag them underwater (the undead don't need to breath).
The spellcaster commands them from a higher balcony, and uses his spells to aid his minions.
The rogue attacks from under water, and makes use of his abilities against paralyzed opponents.
Attack the PC's with bees.
Perhaps a druid who commands bees. Or is even MADE of bees. Yes. Druids made of bees.
Read up on the rules for swarms. They're lots of fun.
Remember that not every opponent is ready to go toe-to-toe with the PC's, especially if they've had time to prepare, or are otherwise ready to waylay some travelers or defend their home.
Consider hobgoblins. Easy eh? Put them up on a ledge, and give them all crossbows. Harder now, huh? Now imagine there are big, old statues up there on that ledge that the hobgoblins can use for cover,...
- The statues can be used for cover
- The ledge is over the entrance to the room, and there is a portcullis the hobgoblins are ready to drop once HALF of the party is inside. (don't forget to roll for a surprise round)
- The statues can be pushed off the ledge onto party members just for fun.
- The stairs leading up to the ledge have been slopped with a bucket of bear fat by the hobgoblins (like a grease spell). They know that fat burns too, so if someone is slipping in the grease, they can toss a torch onto it.
So....you've got hobgoblins who are sick and tired of adventurers taking their stuff, and this time, they've got a simple trap ready. Fire, a portcullis, plenty of crossbow bolts (even a 20 hits), cover and a grease trap.
That's not all...imagine the hobgoblins have a basket of poisonous snakes they were saving for dinner. They can toss the basket down into the room too.
Stuff like this challenges the party and make them appreciate stealth and checking for traps.
"If the party isn't paranoid, they don't respect you as the GM."
Seriously, make any encounter more difficult, by just adding some Pugwampis.
I'm going to have to second blackbloodtroll on this, those little nightmares are enough to send my group screaming.
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Slightly out of topic, I am curious why exactly? They seem on the same level like goblin's or kobold's.
@OP
Tactic's is what improve's the challenge always. Monster's are also supposed to be set in their natural environment and regular human NPC's can't provide that difficulty often.
Example from the above is ghoul's near the water. You have no idea how dangerous water is for PC's without the ability to Swim.
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am i the only person who read the title and thought Rita Repulsa/thread?
Slightly out of topic, I am curious why exactly? They seem on the same level like goblin's or kobold's.
My assumption would be the unluck aura. That looks very mean.
...And makes me want to set up a Gnoll/Pugwampi encounter since they have hilarious immunity to it.
Man, a whole bunch of gnolls with a few Pugwampis sitting on shoulders, making the party reroll twice on all d20s... throw in some spellcasters from afar with debuffs... oh man, that could go downhill for the party so fast.